Hi ,

A few hours ago, the Ministry of Health (MOH) announced important changes to Integrated Shield Plan (IP) riders — the rider is the part of your hospital insurance that covers the cash portion of your bill.

Here are the key updates:

1) Co-payment cap will increase

Currently:

• You co-pay up to $3,000 per policy year.

From April 2026:

• The co-payment cap will be raised to $6,000 per policy year.

2) Riders will no longer cover the deductible

From April 2026 onwards, riders will not cover the deductible anymore.

This deductible (about $2,000–$3,500) must be paid by the patient/policyholder.

How this works in real life

Example: Medical bill of $100,000 (panel doctor)

1. Deductible:
2. • ~$3,500 — paid by patient (not claimable via future riders)
3. Co-payment (5% or 10% depending on rider):
4. • 5% = $5,000
5. • 10% = $10,000 (but capped at $6,000 under new rules)

Under today’s rules

→ You pay max $3,000.

Under the new rules

→ You may pay up to $3,500 (deductible) + $6,000 (co-pay cap).

MOH also shared that MediSave can be used to offset these out-of-pocket amounts.

Why the change?

MOH says the shift to higher co-payment is meant to:

• keep premiums affordable,

• ensure long-term sustainability.

New riders are expected to be about 30% cheaper than today’s riders.

Insurers will release full details soon. From early signs, most existing riders are expected to transition to this new structure at renewal.

What this means for you

If your plans are with me:

Good news — I placed you on a Lite rider, which already has a higher co-pay and lower premiums.

With this new regime, there is a chance your premiums may reduce further. I’ll update you once insurers confirm.

If your hospitalisation insurance is not with me and you want to understand how these changes affect you, feel free to text me — happy to review.

Final thought

As Singapore’s population ages, medical costs are unlikely to fall. The safest way to manage this is to plan early and ensure your insurance, savings, and assets work together to protect you from rising healthcare expenses.

If you want to review your coverage or plan ahead, I’m here 😊

Warm regards,

Zest Chia

Executive Wealth Consultant | Associate Estate Planning Practitioner |

Licensed General Insurance Advisory

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